Pastor Elie Hamuli
God has given each of us a unique ability to serve in His Kingdom and be a light in the world through Jesus Christ’s testimony. According to Matthew 5:14, we shouldn’t hide our light in worldly distractions, trying to make a name for ourselves outside of Christ. Instead, Jesus encourages us to use our light within His Church where it can shine brightly.
Matthew 5:14 tells us it’s God’s will for us to let our light shine, but to do that, we need to come out of hiding. This means stepping out of places that offer a false sense of security and prevent us from using the gifts God gave us, as mentioned in Revelation 12:11. The first and most crucial step is receiving salvation in Jesus Christ to position ourselves to shine.
Now, here are some common hiding places we urgently need to leave. Proverbs 31:6-7 reminds us not to find comfort in the counterfeit peace and freedom offered by alcohol and substances. True deliverance comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit and God’s Word (Ephesians 5:18).
We also need to be cautious about the careless use of social media. Seeking counsel blindly on these platforms can lead to despair. God provides mentorship and accountability in the faith, aiding our growth and strength.
Abandoning a pretentious personality, seeking validation by portraying someone we’re not, is important. Colossians 3:12 encourages us to embrace the qualities found in the Holy Spirit and experience the freedom of our identity in Christ.
Embracing authenticity, we become a source of encouragement to others who can now connect with us and truly appreciate us for who we are, not just an idealized version of ourselves. Similarly, we must avoid isolating ourselves by thinking too highly of ourselves or pretending to know more than others, as this lacks wisdom (refer to Proverbs 18:1).
Likewise, it’s crucial to acknowledge and move away from self-righteousness, which involves outward actions without the necessary inner change and transformation of salvation. We can’t extend God’s grace if we harbor disdain for others, thinking ourselves holier than our neighbors. In contrast, Jesus instructs us in Luke 7:47 that to radiate our light, we must stay grounded in the truth that we show grace to others today because we’ve received abundant grace ourselves.
Lastly, we shouldn’t count ourselves out due to financial difficulties, whether in lack or abundance (Luke 12:48). Considering ourselves know-it-alls leads to arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:2). We need meekness and a teachable spirit to serve God’s Kingdom with our gifts.
